Electromagnetic switch.



W. M. SCOTT.

BLECTROMAGNETIG SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED Amm, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT, 0F RADNOR, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTROMAGN'ETIC SWITCH.

Patented May .26, 1914.

Original application led March 8, 1912, Serial No. 682,506. Divided and this application filed April 5,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. Scorr, a citizen of the United States, residing in Radnor, State. of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switch or circuitbreaker construction.

My invention resides in a switch or circuit breaker comprisingV electro-responsive means and means for mechanically holding a contact member in normal position, the electro-responsive means releasing the same from mechanical control and itself restraining the contact member.

My invention resides in further features hereinafter described.

This application is a division from my application Serial No. 682506, filed March 8, 1912, upon which issued Letters Patent No. 1,058,200.

For an illustration of one of the forms my invention may take reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of switch mechanism'embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the members. Fig. 4 is a side view of a coperating member. Fig. 5 is an elemental and diagrammatic view illustrating the switch mechanism and a mode of electrically connecting the same.

Referring to the drawing, the switch or circuit breaker comprises a base 54 of insulating material upon which is secured an electro-magnet having lthecore 55, winding 56 and jacket 57. Disposed in front of the electro-magnet is the armature 58 having lost motion pivotal connection at 59 with the arm 60 pivoted at 61 to the bracket 62 upon the jacket or housing 57. At 63 the latch 64 is pivoted to the arm 60. On the jacket 57 is formed a notch 65 which is engaged by the hook latch 64 to hold the arm 60 in the position shown in Fig. 1 asihcreafter described. The latch 64 has a lug 65a adapted to be engaged bythe lug 66 on the armature 58. There may be provided on the latch 64 a weight 67 causing the latch 64 to engage the notch 65 even in the case where the base 54 is horizontal. At its upper end the arm 60 carries a Contact roller Serial No. 759,086.

68 adapted to engage with the contact spring 69 mounted upon the base 54.

Pivoted at 61 on the bracket 62, but. independently of the armA 60, is the actuator or operating lever 70 carrying a movable contact 71, electrically connecting through lever or arm 60 with the roller 68. This movable contact 71 is adapted to engage with the stationary contact 72 secured upon the base 54. On the arm 70 is provided a surface 73 adapted to engage the lug 74 on the lower end of the arm 60 for limiting counterclockwise rotation of arm 70, as viewed in Fig. 1. Wrapped around the pivot 61 is a spring 75 whosecne end engages the arm 60 and whoseother end engages the bracket 62, the tension of the spring being such that it tends to rotate the arm 6() in a clockwise direction on its pivot 61 as viewed in Fig. 1. Between the brackets 62 is a surface 78a provided for engaging projection 74a on arm 60 thus limiting outward or clockwise movement of arm 60 which movement is retarded by the spring buffers 7 5a.

In Fig. 5 the stationary contact 69 is shown connected with conductor 81, such conductor 81 being in electrical connection through contact 69, members '60 and 70, contact 72, conductor 80, magnet winding 56 and conductor 79 with conductor 78, the conductors 78 and 81 forming part of any desired circuit.

An indicating device, such as incandescent lamp L, has its terminals connected to conductors 78 and 81, that is, the lamp L is connected in shunt with the switch mechanism and its magnet Winding so that, when the switch is closed as shown in Fig. 5, the lamp L is in effect short circuited and does not glow, thereby indicating that the switch mechanism is closed. When the switch mechanism opens, the lamp L glows, indicating the condition of the switch mechanism.

The operation is as follows: With the parts in circuit closing posit-ion as indicated in the drawing, if the circuit including conductors 78 and 81is conducting current, the electro-magnet is energized and attracts its armature 58 thus holding the contact member 60 in circuit closing position, but raising the latch 64 by engagement of lug 66 with projection 65a on the latch 64; that is to say the electro-magnet upon its energization has transferred the restraint of the member 60 from latch 64 to the electro-magnet'itself. If now, as upon no load, low voltage, or other similar electrical condition in the circuit, the current through the magnet winding 56 becomes Zero or falls to sufliciently low value, the electro-magnet can no longer eX-V ert upon armature 58 sufiicient attractive force to hold the member 60 in closed position, and consequently the spring 75 will throw member 60 outwardly in clock-wise direction about its pivot 61, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby rupt-uring the circuit, it being understood that the lamp L has so high a resistance that the circuit mentioned is in effect broken; or if the lamp L be omitted said circuit is completely broken.` vTo again close the switch mechanism, A'the operator moves the actuator in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot 61, thereby breaking contact between contact members 71 and 72, and as the movement of the member 70 is continued the member 60 is rotated to the position shown in Figzl,A whereupon the ,latch 6st moves into lockingposition and restrains the memberO inthe position shown. The circuit through the winding 56 of `the electro-magnet y is however, at this stage, incomplete because kcontact members 71 and 72 are not in engagement with each other. The operator now depresses` the leyer 70 in clockwise direction about pivot 61 to thev position shown( in Figsfl and 5, where contacts 71 and 7 2 are. inengagement with each other. If now there'iscurrnt in the circuit the electro-magnet "willi-:be lenergized and will transfer'the restraint, of member GO from latch to itsel-f,- as vabove described. If atthe end of therclosingV movement'above described there vis'fno current in the circuit, restraint of member'O is by latch 64, until current is presentuin the circuit and to a degree sufficient. to. attract armature 58 for the purposes above described. 1

From Ithe foregoing description iit is apparent that the switching mechanism may be closed and locked closed whether or not there be current in the circuit to energize the electro-magnet; and that when there is such current prese-nt the restraint ofthe contact member is transferred `'from the latch to the electro-magnet. A

I'Vhat I claim is:

l. In an electric switch, a movable contac member, means for restraining .said contact member in normal position, and an electromagnet having an armature connected with said contact member, said armature when attracted freeing said contact member from said restraining means and itself restraining said contact member.

2. In an electric switch, a movable contact member, a latch for restraining the same in normal position, and an electro-magnet having an armature connected with said con- .included in thesamecircuitf.

tact member for actuating said latch and itself restraining said contact member.

3. In an electric switch, a movable contact member, means for restraining the same in normal position, an actuator for moving said contact member to normal position, a switch Acontrolled by said actuatonand an electro-magnet controlled by said switch and having an armature connected with said contact member, said armature when attracted transferring the restraint of said movable contact member from said restraining means to itself.

4. In an electric switch, a movable contact member, means for restraining the same in normal position, an actuator for moving said contact member'to normal position, a switch controlled by said actuator, and an electromagnet controlled by said switch and having an armature connected with said contact member, said armature when attracted holding said restraining means in inoperative position and itself restraining said contact member. v v

5. In an electric switch, a movable contact member, means for' restraining'the same in normal position, an actuator for moving said contact member to normal position, a switch controlled by'said actuator, and an electromagnet havingar'i armature connected with said contact member, saidarmature when attracted transferring. restraintI of said contactmember from r said restraining means to, itself, said switch 'and said contactmembe-r 6. IIn jan electric c switch, a" movable Ycori- ;ta't hierber, "means'for restrainingl the :same normal position, "an actuator for moving said contact "memberto lnormalposition, a 'switch controlled by's'aid actuator, and an 'electro-magnet'controlled'by said switch and having 'anar'matui'e connected with said contact lmember, saidarmatn're when 'attracted transferring 'restraint of "said contact linember from saidiestrainingv `means to'itself, said switch and said contact member include'd in the same circuit.

17. 'In an elect-'ric Vswitch ,the combination `with a movable contactmember, of means for restraining the same in normalv position, an actuator for movingthe same'to normal position, a switch opene'd'by said 'actuator when said actuatormoves said 'contactmember 'to normalposit-ion andclosedfupon reposition, va switch'opened by said actuator when said actuator moves said contact member to normal position and closed upon reversed movement of said actuator, and an electro-magnet controlled by said contact member and having an armature connected therewith, said armature when attracted transferring restraint of said contact member from said restraining means to itself.

9. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of means for restraining the same in normal position, an actuator for movingthe same to normal position, a switch opened by said actuator when said actuator moves said contact member to normal position and closed upon reversed movement of said actuator, and an electro-magnet controlled by said switch and said Contact member and having an armature connected with said contact member, said armature when attracted transferring restraint of said contact member from said restraining means to itself.

10. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of means for restraining the same in normal position, an actuator for moving the same to normal position, a'switch opened by said actuator when said actuator moves said contact member to normal position and closed upon reversed movement of said actuator, and an electro-magnet connected in series with said switch and said contact member and having an armature connected with said contact member, said armature when attracted transferring restraint of said contact member from said restraining means to itself.

11. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of a latch carried thereby for restraining the same in normal position, and an electro-magnet having an armature carried by said Contact member for actuating said latch and itself holding said contact member in normal position.

12. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of a latch for restraining the same in normal position, and an electro-magnet having an armature carried by said contact member through a lost motion connection, said armature adapted to actuate said latch and itself hold said contact member in normal position.

13. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of a latch carried thereby for restraining the same in normal position, and an electro-magnet having an armature connected with said contact member through a lost motion connection, said armature adapted to actuate said latch and itself hold said contact member in normal position.

14. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of a latch for restraining the same in normal position, and an underload electro-magnet having an armature connected with said Contact member for actuating said latch to transfer the restraint of said contact member from said latch to said armature.

15. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable contact member, of a latch for restraining the same in normal position, an underload electro-magnet having an armature connected with said contact member, an actuator movable independently of said contact member for moving the same to normal position, a switch opened when said actuator moves said contact member to normal position and closed upon reverse movement of said actuator to close the circuit of said electro-magnet, said armature when attracted transferring the restraint of said movable contact member from said latch to itself.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

ELEANOR T. MCCALL, NELLIE EVANS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

